Step 2 of 5: Book, Pay and Register

Accommodations

An accommodation is a change to the standard examination procedure for a candidate with a disability. It must be requested and approved before booking.

Under FCC rules, the examiners must make such a change when a physical disability requires it (47 CFR 97.509(k)). They may first ask for a statement from a physician that describes the disability.

Available Accommodations

• Questions read to the candidate: online, an examiner may read each question aloud, up to two times, and additional time is allowed. In person, an examiner may read the entire examination to the candidate, and up to one hour is allowed.
• Hearing: for a deaf or hard-of-hearing candidate, the team discusses the candidate’s needs in advance and sets up the session to meet them. This can include reading the questions aloud, typed instructions and captions.
• Vision: screen magnification may be permitted, on a case-by-case basis.
• Physical disability: adaptive keyboards and switches may be used with a desktop computer. A helper may hold the phone for the room scan, and must then leave the room before the examination begins.
• Calculations: a candidate who cannot use the calculator built into ExamTools may ask an examiner to perform the calculation. The candidate states the calculation, such as the sine of 60 degrees, and the examiner enters it and reads back the result.

Other changes may need a different type of session or another examiner, so they cannot be arranged on the day of the examination.

Contents of the Request

• The assistance required.
• A description of the disability.
• Any adaptive equipment to be used, such as a keyboard or switch.
• The examination element or elements, such as Technician or General.
• Preferred dates, and whether an online or an in-person session is preferred.

HandiHam offers further support to people with disabilities who hold, or are working toward, an amateur radio license.

Accessible Testing and HandiHam